ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 10

ORDER OF ST. JOHN

CENTENARY SERVICE

ADDRESS BY CANON JAMES

A special service was conducted by Canon P. James in St. Paul's ProCathedral last evening in connection with the centenary of the. revival of the Order of St. John. There was an attendance in the congregation of about 200 members of the city and suburban branches of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, under Sir Heaton Rhodes, New Zealand president of the Order, and Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe were present. "Whether confessed in words or not, the creed, which shapes the lives of a great part of modern mankind is that self-interest and self-aggrandise-ment is the right and only possible motive of human endeavour,'' said Canon P. James. The creed of competitive selfishness had produced a sick and chaotic world. It was appropriate to refer to the ancient Latin motto of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, which could be rendered as "Tor tho faith and for the service of mankind." Here were found bound together two things which were often set in contrast today—religion and humanitariahism. Some who applauded humanitarianism were impatient with religion. They said, "Let us do what lies in our power to make this world a better place, and we need not trouble labout any other world." Creed and character were indissolubly wedded, said Canon James. The highest faith still made the highest man. "Until recently, throughout Christendom, hospitals have arisen, in close connection with the church," said the preacher. Men and women had renounced the world to serve Christ in ministering to the sick, poor, and feeble La ages in which they would have otherwise been left uncared for. OLDEST ORDER OF CHIVALRY. The/Order •■ of. the Hospital of St." John in Jerusalem was the oldest order of chivalry in Europe, said Canon James. Before the middle of the sixth century a Christian hospital dedicated to St. John the Baptist existed in Jerusalem. In the eleventh century a hospital established by the piety of Neapolitan merchants had been dedicated to the same saint. It was for the succour of Christian pilgrims who went to Jerusalem, then in the hands of the Moslems. There the "poor brothers" of the Order of St. John devoted their lives to the. service of suffering Christians and Moslems. Canon James traced the extension of the Order and its vicissitudes in peace and war. The English Priory of the Order of St. John had- been dissolved at the time of the Reformation. For centuries the Order was dormant in England. One hundred years ago it was revived. It spread throughout the Empire, and was established at Dunedin in 1892. Founded on what was best in the spirit and traditions of the ancient Knights Hospitallers, the St., John Ambulance Association had been organised in spreading the knowledge of first-aid and home nursing. The first lesson was read by Mr. F. W. Ward, Acting-Assistant Commissioner, and the second lesson by Corps Superintendent \T. Dutton. • FAITH IN PRACTICAL FORM. At the end of the service tho parade was inspected at the Sydney street schoolroom by Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe, Sir Heaton Rhodes, New Zealand presidont of the Order, and the principal provincial officers. It was the first appearance on parade of the cadet girls and cadet boys, who turned out in good numbers in their uniforms. The various ambulances and nursing divisions from the city, suburbs, and Hutt Valley were represented, as well as the Rover Scout nmbulanco and the Wellington Y.W.C.A. Nursing Division. Lord Bledisloe, in a brief address, said that there'was no ceremonial function with which he and Lady Bledisloe were in more entire sympathy than the celebration of tho centenary of the revival of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, a most ancient order of chivalry. "I am one of those," said Lord Bledisloe, "who most profoundly believe in the words of the Good Book that faith without works is dead and worthless; and I can imagine- no finer illustration in the whole world of faith in a practical form than that great movement of St. John of Jerusalem, connected as it always has been not only with faith in God but with the service, the beneficent .service, of mau in time of suffering and trouble." Lord Bledisloe most cordially wished the movement all success, . and congratulated the brigade on the quite admirable work that was being done throughout. the Dominion, particularly in the Wellington province. Sir Heaton Rhodes, on behalf of the brigade, thanked Their Excellencies for attending the service and carrying out the inspection.

One first offender for drunkeiiess was convicted and discharged at the Mount Cook Police Court to-day by, Mr. W. H. Coy, J.P. ...'.,; j..:..._. j